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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| PlayStation 4 console announced by Sony in New York | PlayStation 4 console announced by Sony in New York |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sony has announced its next-generation gaming console - the PlayStation 4 - at an event in New York. | Sony has announced its next-generation gaming console - the PlayStation 4 - at an event in New York. |
| Its new hardware is designed to offer superior graphics as well as new social features including the sharing of recorded gameplay clips. | Its new hardware is designed to offer superior graphics as well as new social features including the sharing of recorded gameplay clips. |
| It will succeed the PlayStation 3, which went on sale in 2006 and has sold about 75 million units. | It will succeed the PlayStation 3, which went on sale in 2006 and has sold about 75 million units. |
| The PS4 will eventually compete against Microsoft's still-to-be-unveiled Xbox 360 successor and Nintendo's Wii U. | The PS4 will eventually compete against Microsoft's still-to-be-unveiled Xbox 360 successor and Nintendo's Wii U. |
| Sony also confirmed a range of big-name software for the machine including Bungie's upcoming "shared-world shooter" Destiny, which will include exclusive content for the PS4. The developer's previous title, Halo, helped drive sales for the rival Xbox platform. | |
| A successful launch might drive sales of the Sony's new televisions and other consumer electronics, helping turn around its fortunes. | A successful launch might drive sales of the Sony's new televisions and other consumer electronics, helping turn around its fortunes. |
| Sony posted a 456.7bn yen loss ($4.9bn; £3.2bn) in its last financial year, marking the fourth year it ended in deficit. | Sony posted a 456.7bn yen loss ($4.9bn; £3.2bn) in its last financial year, marking the fourth year it ended in deficit. |
| But the firm has forecast a 20bn yen profit for the current financial year ending in March. | But the firm has forecast a 20bn yen profit for the current financial year ending in March. |
| Sony said the console was "coming holiday 2013" suggesting it will go on sale in at least some countries in or around December. It did not give any indication of its price. | |
| PC-based chip | PC-based chip |
| Sony described the machine as being like a "supercharged" PC. | Sony described the machine as being like a "supercharged" PC. |
| It runs off an x86-based CPU (central processing unit) - similar architecture to that found in most desktop computers - and an "enhanced" PC GPU (graphics processing unit). | It runs off an x86-based CPU (central processing unit) - similar architecture to that found in most desktop computers - and an "enhanced" PC GPU (graphics processing unit). |
| It comes with the new DualShock 4 controller, which includes a touchpad, a "share button" and a lightbar, which allows a separate camera to track its movement. | It comes with the new DualShock 4 controller, which includes a touchpad, a "share button" and a lightbar, which allows a separate camera to track its movement. |
| "This is a complete controller upgrade with touch, share and better responsiveness," said Brian Blau, an analyst at the tech consultancy Gartner. | "This is a complete controller upgrade with touch, share and better responsiveness," said Brian Blau, an analyst at the tech consultancy Gartner. |
| "The new controller is the key to a better PS4 experience. It has the ability to share content easily, and brings in a component of touch that allows even more ways to interact with games." | "The new controller is the key to a better PS4 experience. It has the ability to share content easily, and brings in a component of touch that allows even more ways to interact with games." |
| The console also includes new hardware dedicated to video compression to make it a more social device. | The console also includes new hardware dedicated to video compression to make it a more social device. |
| Users will be able to pause a game, select a few minutes of recorded video of their most recent activity, and instruct the clip to be uploaded to a social network. | Users will be able to pause a game, select a few minutes of recorded video of their most recent activity, and instruct the clip to be uploaded to a social network. |
| This will then occur in the background while they can return to their game. The firm said it wanted to make sharing video clips as common as it is today to share screenshots. | This will then occur in the background while they can return to their game. The firm said it wanted to make sharing video clips as common as it is today to share screenshots. |
| Another new feature is that gamers can let one of their friends connect to their machine and take control of their character to help if they have got stuck, or allow several friends to watch their live progress as spectators. This facility uses technology from Gaikai - a cloud-based service Sony acquired last year for $380m. | Another new feature is that gamers can let one of their friends connect to their machine and take control of their character to help if they have got stuck, or allow several friends to watch their live progress as spectators. This facility uses technology from Gaikai - a cloud-based service Sony acquired last year for $380m. |
| Gaikai's technology is also being used to allow PS4 games to be streamed and played via the PlayStation Vita handheld console, which may boost its sales. | Gaikai's technology is also being used to allow PS4 games to be streamed and played via the PlayStation Vita handheld console, which may boost its sales. |
| Sony said it was also exploring the possibility of using its Gaikai unit to allow PlayStation3 games to be played on the new machine as well as other devices. | Sony said it was also exploring the possibility of using its Gaikai unit to allow PlayStation3 games to be played on the new machine as well as other devices. |
| However, at the moment PS3 games will not run on the new console. | However, at the moment PS3 games will not run on the new console. |
| 'More important' | 'More important' |
| Sony invited developers on stage to preview some of the PS4 games being worked on. They included Killzone Shadowfall - an addition to its bestselling Killzone science fiction first-person shooter series; the racing game DriveClub; superhero game Infamous: Second Son; and Diablo 3. | |
| Developer Ubisoft also confirmed that its much-discussed title WatchDogs, which involves a hacker taking control of a smart city's systems, is indeed being developed for the PS4. | |
| The PlayStation 3 was initially sold at a loss, so if that practice is repeated with the new model its launch may initially put fresh strain on the firm's finances. | The PlayStation 3 was initially sold at a loss, so if that practice is repeated with the new model its launch may initially put fresh strain on the firm's finances. |
| Even so, one analyst suggested that Sony would be willing to take the pain to maximise early demand. | Even so, one analyst suggested that Sony would be willing to take the pain to maximise early demand. |
| "Without the established user base and community of PS3 and PlayStation Network, Sony would be without a significant home entertainment foothold allowing it to connect many of its other consumer electronic devices, products and services," said Piers Harding-Rolls, head of games at IHS Screen Digest. | "Without the established user base and community of PS3 and PlayStation Network, Sony would be without a significant home entertainment foothold allowing it to connect many of its other consumer electronic devices, products and services," said Piers Harding-Rolls, head of games at IHS Screen Digest. |
| "Sony's next generation device is likely to take on more importance not less." | "Sony's next generation device is likely to take on more importance not less." |